More than 10,000 Catholics have left Bosnia over the past year, announced Bosnia’s Cardinal Vinko Puljic on Thursday, calling upon the government to create conditions that would decrease emigration.

“The Church cannot have that much of an influence on this, it can only stimulate and encourage everyone to work on creating conditions that would make people stay,” the Cardinal said at a press conference in Mostar.

Military Bishop Tomo Vuksic added that without serious and solid material conditions for life, above all employment, income opportunities and all labour rights ensured, the emigration cannot be stopped.

“The question that arises is whether it is fair at all to tell someone to stay if the conditions in which they would remain are not such that their dignity and rights are protected,” Vuksic said.

“If all of that is not possible, then surviving and remaining here is an illusion than reality,” he said.